Commitment

When I was a beginner I began my study with Tom Lewis Sensei at his Salisbury Md Karate Barn. The dojo was custom built by one of his students on his property. It looked like a barn from the outside, but inside it was a custom built dojo.

The program was a club, and the dues fees for kyu students was just $15.00 a month. It was not run like a commercial school. And as modest as the fee was, I was able to clean the dojo once a week for my fee.

Then I moved to Scranton. Pa, The only local martial arts school that I could attend was Frank Trojanowicz was a commercial Tang Soo Do program that used contracts.

A year as a half later Charles Murray moved into the Scranton area to pastor a Church. With him I was able to return to my Isshinryu studies, we trained in the basement of his Church, he pushed me incredibly and there was no fee, just plenty of sweat equity.

While I paid very little for my Isshinryu instruction, what I received was incredible. And I learned how to be an instructor by watching how they taught me.

After Charles returned to the USAF, I was alone, Walking around Scranton at lunch time I observed the town was full of dance studios. Eventually I got an idea,
 

I approached the Scranton Boys Club and eventually they approved a karate program there.  Of course I was using it to keep myself in Isshinryu, but I quickly realized it was the thing to do sharing Isshinryu with the youth of the area. I charged no fee for the instruction, but the Club charged $5.00 a month to raise money to support the Club.
 

6 years later I moved to Derry, NH for work, Almost immediately I was approved to begin a program at the Derry Area Boys and Girls Club. Again I taught for free,and we did charge the kids a fee of $5.00 a month for the Boys and Girls Club, That fee remained constant for the next 35 years. It was the Clubs decision weather to waive the fee in individual cases,
 

Soon after I began the Derry youth program, I also began adult program. Again I taught for fee, There was a $5.00 a month fee for the adults.

I always worked to deliver the best karate I could for my students.  As my students aged between 7 to 55, while they all studied the same kyu program, their instruction need were geared for their individual needs.

I was not doing anything unusual, for that is how my original instuctors taught, before me.

For most of my first 10 years teaching in Scranton and later in Derry, I taught my classes myself. On occasion because of illness or work at times I had to cancel class. I had no choice but I was always uneasy doing so.

During kata time for class, I would move from student to student instructing them as necessary. I recall times in Derry when I was moving between 15 groups teaching various kata as required for those students. I had developed a unique focus on the Isshinryu kata to do so. I had not been taught to do so but I was also able to address each students actual needs.

Then when I began my adult program, even though the content between youth program and adult program was identical. I, however, approached the students as individuals with very different needs.. They were working to the same goals but at very different paces for instruction. Always addressing what was appropriate for each student.

Then there were how I addressed weather issues.

For example one evening there were very strong rain and wind storms beginning when I left the house. On the back road were I was traveling to the club, which had high banks where the farm field was beside the road on the left. Suddenly the rain became very intense to be blown across the road in sheets of rain. I did not turn back for class was scheduled, finally making in to the Club. Of course when I got there and went inside I heard it announced that the Club was closing because of the weather. I helped the kids there wait until their parents pick them up, then went back inside to go upstairs to train by myself. None of the adults, showing intelligent choice, showed up to train so I was on my own, I was there of course.

 

Another example would be the New Hampshire winters. Frequently snow storms would hit on Saturday's where I would have my adult classes at the Boys Club at 8am. I lived about 2 miles from the club and remember each time I would slowly drive the 2 miles to the club to be in time for class.
 

Of course no one showed up as they were too intelligent to go out in the snow (appropriately so) but I always went because someone might show up. The first 10 of so times when no one showed up I would then go inside and just work out myself.

But time after time over the years, I eventually would begin to wait for 20 minutes and then make my way home.   I even remember waiting there and moving my car when the snow plows would show up to clear the club parking lot.  At times even moving my car to allow the plows better access.

My commitment was always my students, should any of them show up.

Even when my disabilities arose I continued to make my way to the club, to then stand during class and directing it. Then in time I started to need a walker I would still teach, My walker was light weight and I could carry it up to the class, then even with the other instructors doing much of the teaching, I watched everything directing the class structure.

For the adult class I always ran everything, Though disabled when demonstrating various applications, I was still effective for the 1 foot range, My students never were happy when the felt what I was showing.

Then moving to Arizona, no students, my commitment to Isshinryu remains constant.  I still perform some kata as I can and work on my blog. I continue to work on new ways to utilize Isshinryu.